Russian Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha (VIDEOS)
Muslims across Russia have held mass prayers to mark Kurban Bayram, also known as Eid al-Adha, one of the religion’s biggest holidays. Islam is the second-most widely practiced religion in the country after Orthodox Christianity.
According to Islamic tradition, Kurban Bayram commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The holiday, which coincides with the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, emphasizes charity, mercy, and communal solidarity.
Muslims traditionally mark the occasion with special prayers and the ritual sacrifice of livestock, with meat distributed among relatives, neighbors, and those in need.
An estimated 20 million Muslims live in Russia, in addition to migrants from former Soviet republics in Central Asia who reside in the country and are harder to count.
Some 350,000 people took part in celebrations in Moscow at the Cathedral Mosque and other designated prayer sites on Wednesday.
How has Russia reacted to the US-Israeli attack on Iran?
Russia has condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran as an act of aggression and called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation.
On Saturday, the US and Israel carried out airstrikes in Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior commanders. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at US bases across the Middle East. While US President Donald Trump argued that the operation was necessary to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Iran insists that it only enriched uranium for civilian purposes and denounced the strikes as entirely unprovoked.
Russia has close ties with Iran and signed a strategic partnership treaty with the country last year. RT breaks down Moscow’s position regarding the conflict.
What did Putin say?
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to the Iranian people, describing Khamenei’s killing as “a cynical violation of every norm of morality and international law.”
On Monday, Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, which host US bases targeted by Iran’s retaliatory strikes. According to the Kremlin, the leaders discussed “the unprecedented events” and agreed on the need for a ceasefire and a return to diplomacy.
Putin told Emirati leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that Russia was ready to convey the concern of the Gulf states to Iran. Speaking to the leaders of Qatar and Bahrain, the president stressed that the conflict risks plunging the region into “full-scale war with unpredictable consequences.”
What did the Kremlin say?
Moscow is closely monitoring the situation and maintains communications with all parties, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. He added that Russia is “deeply disappointed” that the Omani-mediated US-Iranian talks in Geneva had failed to prevent “direct aggression” against Iran.
Asked whether the attack on Iran would have any impact on Russia’s trust in the US in negotiations over Ukraine, Peskov said Moscow would “draw relevant conclusions.”
“We still greatly appreciate the US mediation efforts, but ultimately we trust only ourselves,” Peskov said.
What did the Foreign Ministry say?
The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the strikes on Iran as “unprovoked military aggression” and condemned “the practice of political assassinations and the hunting of leaders of sovereign states.” The ministry urged all sides to end hostilities, warning that disruption of shipping in the Persian Gulf would damage the global oil and gas trade.
The ministry accused the US and Israel of seeking to derail normalization between Iran and Arab states. “Any attack on civilian infrastructure – both in Iran and the Arab countries – is unacceptable and should be avoided,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The lawful interests of all countries in the Persian Gulf must be respected,” the ministry added.
What did Dmitry Medvedev say?
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also warned that the escalation could potentially trigger World War III.
Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, told TASS that Trump had made a “grave mistake” by ordering the assassination of Khamenei because he had made the ayatollah a martyr in the eyes of Shiite Muslims, which puts “all Americans at risk.”
Medvedev argued that the war against Iran is part of the West’s struggle to “maintain global domination.”
Putin reveals Russia’s ‘military advantage’
Russian nuclear submarines are capable of sailing undetected beneath Arctic ice, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Speaking at a meeting with nuclear sector workers in Sarov, east of Moscow, Putin stressed that the Arctic region is crucial for Russia’s defense.
“Our strategic nuclear submarines dive beneath the Arctic ice, vanishing from radar. This is our military advantage,” he said.
He added that Arctic research is also “extremely important” as shipping routes are becoming more accessible due to melting ice.
“It is our competitive advantage because many countries are interested in using the routes,” Putin noted.
Many nations, including Russia and the US, have highlighted the importance of the Arctic for security and global trade in recent years.
Since the 2000s, Russia has built eight Borei-class nuclear submarines, with the most recent vessel, the Knyaz Pozharsky, launched last year. Two more are under construction.
Putin said last month that the submarines are equipped with Bulava ballistic missiles, which have a range of up to 8,000 km (4,970 miles).
Russia is also currently the only country operating a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.
